Charities & Volunteering Newsletter, October 2023

CHARITIES & VOLUNTEERING OCTOBER 2023 • ISSUE 7 •

EALING HALF MARATHON FOR LOG CABIN Once again, as a school, we supported the work of the Log Cabin through the Ealing Half Marathon. On Friday 22nd September the whole school dressed up in sport’s wear to support the NHEHS Ealing Half Marathon team, and on Sunday 24th September many students lined the streets of Ealing to cheer the team along. This year our school team consisted of 15 parents, staff and students. A particular congratulations to Bella and Isie in Year 13 who entered the half marathon for the first time.

In total all your fundraising efforts achieved £1,983. Well done!

After the EHM, the Log Cabin invited Mrs Johnson for a visit to have a look at where all our fundraising will be used and how we can continue to work with the Log Cabin community.

The most important area our fundraising will support is the outdoor area. There is quite a large space which the children enjoy but it is in urgent need of upgrading. Plans are currently being drawn up for this space and some of our students will be able to visit to view the new play area once completed. The Log Cabin would love to continue to develop our partnership and have ideas for further volunteering opportunities. These will be advertised in the newsletter as well as on the student noticeboard volunteering pages.

The Log Cabin have passed on their thanks to all of you for your fundraising and support.

"We are extremely grateful for the continued support of NHEHS pupils, parents and staff over the years - not only in terms of the valuable and much needed fundraising, but also for all the events the school hosts for our children. This partnership fosters stronger and more resilient inclusive communities."

VOLUNTEERING OXFAM CHARITY SHOP

LOCAL EALING HOME VISITS

CARE

Thank you to the Year 10&11 students who have been visiting three local care homes during their enrichment lessons this half term. St David’s, Chestnut Lodge and Downurst have continued to be grateful for these visits. The choir has continued to sing to and with the residents in their activities’ room. On the next visit one care home would like the choir to also visit those residents who are more bedbound.

The craft group bring fun crafts and games to the residents. Colouring and word searches are also popular.

The activities provide a great opportunity for students and residents to sit and chat together whilst carrying out these activities.

For just over the past year, I have been volunteering at my local Oxfam shop. The Oxfam shops help raise funds for Oxfam, a a Britishfounded confederation of 21 independent charitable organizations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty.

I initially got my place there through doing Duke of Edinburgh, however I have kept volunteering since completing my bronze certification.

I assist with sorting out donations, helping out on the floor of the shop and sometimes even serve customers.

As I only spend an hour every weekend I do not find it very time consuming and knowing that I'm contributing to a charitable cause in my spare time definitely makes it worth it!

Ash Y11

We look forward to introducing Christmas craft and carol singing in the next half term.

EALING RIDING SCHOOL Ealing Riding School are looking for volunteers to help out with the work needed to run these stables. This includes cleaning out the stables, filling up water and food truffs and grooming the horses.

They are situated in Gunnersbury Avenue W5 3XD and open Tues-Fri until 9pm and at the weekend until 4pm. If you are interested in getting involved, more information will be added to the volunteering pages on the student notice board or please ask Mrs Johnson for further information.

YEAR 11 FUNDRAISING FOR ACTION BREAKS SILENCE For Year 11’s charity month, we chose to raise money for Action Breaks Silence. Action Breaks Silence is an educational charity established to create a world free from violence against women and girls. To achieve this, a multi-pronged approach is adopted and actioned through the delivery of the Action Breaks Silence Community Intervention in schools’ settings. The programmes Action Break’s Silence hold aim to tackle sexual harassment and sexual violence with targeted strategies to address issues such as gender inequality and toxic masculinity.

Gilmore Girls Event In support of Action Breaks Silence, Year 11 held a Gilmore Girls watching event. At the event we sold cinnamon rolls, decaf coffee, hot chocolate and more baked goods to fit the autumnal/Gilmore Girls theme! It was a big success and a really fun event to support charity!

Staff v Student Event We held a staff vs students crashmat dodgeball competition. The entry fee was £1 and all the money raised went towards Action breaks Silence. We raised just over £40 from this event. Everyone who participated and watched found the event very enjoyable. Despite the teachers putting their all into winning (and taking a few falls along the way!) the students brought home the victory.

Bake Sale To raise money for Action Breaks Silence, Year 11 held two bake sales with an array of autumn-themed treats. There were a variety of types of baked goods such as pumpkin spice cookies, cinnamon rolls and gingerbread mini egg cookies! We were able to sell out everything with the help from all the Year 11’s in the bake sale team. We all really enjoyed the event and being able to support Action Breaks Silence!

HARVEST HAMPER COLLECTION Once again the students of NHEHS made an amazing job

of

the

wonderful.

harvest There

hampers.

was

such

a

The

display

variety

of

looked food

all

beautifully presented in an Autumnal-theme. It was extremely difficult to decide on a winner but 8E’s hamper contained the most amount of food donated, and 11S’ hamper won the prize for the best decorated.

Foodbank

continue

to

be

overwhelmed

by

your

generosity, and this year Sanitation 4 Sisters were also thrilled to receive a large box of sanitary products which has been sent to the women living at the Marylebone project.

Thank you again for taking part in this seasonal event.

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING On Friday the 29th of September, we held our annual Macmillan Coffee Morning bake sale at 1:30pm in the lower atrium for students (the staff held their own event at breaktime in the main staffroom). Students were very generous in their contributions, evident through the vast array of delicious cakes and hot drinks. So generous, that the bake sale had to be held over two days!

Furthermore, the event was a massive success, not only raising awareness about the cancer workforce, but also raising £910. All donations have gone to Macmillan Cancer Support, to help as much as we can in providing physical, financial, and emotional support to those suffering from cancer.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Coffee Morning, and we hope to do just as well (or even better) next year! - Abbi Y13

BOOKS FOR AFRICA Last June, Y10 enrichment students collected textbooks no longer required by the different subjects studied at NHEHS. They sorted, selected and packaged up books in a good condition from both the Junior and Senior schools. They were then couriered to the charity ‘Books to Africa’ which is located in Kent. We have just been informed that a number of our textbooks have been donated to a school in Mzuzu Northern Region, Malawi. They have been gratefully received and have already been used in lessons by staff and students.

We look forward to hearing again from the charity when another school receives some of our textbooks.

CARE 4 CALAIS AFTERNOON OF FUN On Wednesday 4th October a group of us went down to visit the children at the Care for Calais hotel in Hayes. We played Jenga, did some colouring in and even made some paper hedgehogs! It was really lovely to meet so many children and also see some familiar faces. They seemed to really enjoy talking to us and they

showed

us

their

awesome

dance

moves

-

particularly enjoying Justin Timberlake’s ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’. All of us are really keen to visit them again soon and encourage anyone in Y10 or above to sign up. I promise, volunteering for just an hour of your day will be as fun for you as it is for them!

Harinee Y13

SANITATION4SISTERS The Sanitation4Sisters’ team is made up of three upper sixth students, and we want to make a difference to the underlying but very much prevalent issue that is Period Poverty. Our aim is simple. We want to tackle the lasting issue of Period Poverty within the UK and increase the number of women receiving essential sanitary products that are so often not available to the wide majority. We want to tear down the stigma surrounding menstruation, whilst also raising awareness so that everyone can have an understanding of the severity of period poverty, an issue that women face every day. We are also in partnership with The Marylebone Project who have been incredibly supportive of Sanitation4Sisters, educating us on period poverty and showing us the severe impacts that it can have on people. At NHEHS we hosted a fundraiser for Sanitation4Sisters, where in the Harvest collection girls brought in spare sanitary products and knickers, we received an overwhelming amount of support and products, which will all be donated to women in need. Venus R, Year 13

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISING This week (w/c 16th Oct) the Amnesty group have been fundraising for those affected by the Libyan floods. In September a powerful storm in Libya caused two dams to collapse and catastrophic flooding in the northeast city of Derna.

300,000 children have been affected, many have been stranded in their homes with no electricity and access to water. Some have managed to be evacuated and given temporary shelter.

Three main hospitals and four clinics are

completely out of service. In an emergency, children are always among the most vulnerable. Unicef are especially concerned about children’s access to clean water and the prevention of deadly diseases like cholera. It is critical to establish shelters to protect children and families.

On Tuesday Amnesty hosted a fantastic teacher fashion show with a loud and supportive audience. Students chose costumes for the models (which were teachers

and

support

staff

from

the

senior

school)

which

ranged

from

halloween dress up to Barbie. There was a great atmosphere and a really fun afternoon. Mr Piesse was the star of the show! Thank you for all your generosity.

On Thursday it was the Halloween/Autumnal dress up day. Thank you again for supporting this event and contributing towards the invaluable work of Unicef in Libya. Money will be counted shortly and the final total will be shared after half term break.

CHRISTMAS GIFT BAGS FOR CARE4CALAIS Working in partnership with the Care for Calais hotel, this year we will be looking at providing Christmas presents for the children to help celebrate the festivities. We would love for everyone to get involved and so will be launching it as a form time initiative, with groups of two or three creating a bag together. Bags will be provided for you after the half term break to fill. Some ideas of what to put in are listed below, and please bear in mind the age of the child you are collecting for and any health and safety hazards!

● ● ● ● ●

Small toys Jewellery/hair accessories Colouring books Pens, pencils and paper Sweets (please try to make these Halal and non-chocolatey if

possible)

● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Activity books Rubix cubes/simple puzzles Small game sets Basic art supplies (all inclusive sets, playdough) Face paints/semi-permanent tattoos Stickers Any more fun ideas!

We would also love for a card to be included in the bags if possible, with a special christmas message.

FROM THE ARCHIVES 1980's IThe Charity Society Committee collected over £110 (approximately £3,000 in today’s currency) in Box Collections alone, and in May, Miss King-Davies and Miss McLeod took a party of girls to the Annual U.G.S. Service at Southwark Cathedral where Emma Newton presented our contribution. The Harvest Festival platform

was was

held

on

just

full

September of

lovely

29th,

and

gifts

of

the

every

description, the little girls from Redlands bringing a most generous lot after Prayers. Additionally, the girls in Form II Lower A worked hard for War on Want, World-Wide Helpers' Club, and raised a sum of £112 and the result of the three Flag days were as follows: Poppy Day, £38 ; St. David's Day, £51 ; Alexandra Day, £43.

WAYS TO HELP UPCOMING EVENTS IN AUTUMN 2 AT NHEHS

EALING FOOD BANK We

would

like

to

encourage

all

NHEHS students and staff to donate

Look out for all of the below events that will

towards this good cause, by looking

be taking place after the half term break!

below at the October shopping list.

Collection of tents and sleeping bags for C4C Visit to C4C hotel to carry out crafts and activities with the children Y10 Charity events Collection of items for Age UK Christmas hampers Carol singing at Age UK School Christmas Bazaar Christmas Jumper day

INFORMATION ON CHARITIES & VOLUNTEERING If you are looking for volunteer opportunities or information about charity events, please look on the Student Noticeboard.

Do you have any stories of charity work you have done recently?

Do you have ideas of what you would like us to do as a school?

If so, please let your charity reps know: Abbi, Harinee, Rithi, Bella & Isie or Mrs Johnson, Miss Newman and Ms Tavakoly We’d love to share your stories and help you with your ideas!

Thank you for your continued support in all of our charity endeavours!